Match Details
Match Date	17th Apr, 2006
Opponent	South Sydney
Result	Win 26-18
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Homebush (Telstra Stadium)
Crowd	19,529
Referee	Russell Smith

South Sydney's second half woes have continued as the Bulldogs moved into the NRL top six with a 26-18 come-from-behind win at Telstra Stadium.

In what has become an all too familiar story for the Bunnies, they blew an 18-8 halftime lead to remain the only side in the competition without a win.

Injuries again played a part for the Bunnies, who were reduced to only two interchange players for the entire second half after knee injuries to winger Shannon Hegarty and prop Luke Stuart.

Souths started well with Nathan Merritt scoring the first try after only five minutes before Corey Hughes replied for the visitors.

A crucial decision by referee Russell Smith to sin bin Luke Patten for a professional foul following a strong run from Joe Galuvao then changed the complexion of the match.

With Patten in the bin, the Bunnies turned an 8-4 deficit into a 16-8 lead courtesy of tries to Galuvao and five-eighth John Sutton, with Sutton strolling over from short range after Daniel Holdsworth had rushed up out of the line to create an opening.

Sonny Bill Williams made his long awaited return when he entered the fray after 33 minutes, making an immediate impact with a half break with his first touch of the ball, but his over-exuberance cost the Bulldogs when he gifted the Rabbitohs two points when he gave away a penalty in front of his sticks just before the break.

Souths winger Merritt should have extended his side's lead three minutes after the restart only to put down a ball from Adam McDougall with an open run to the line, and the Dogs made him pay for the error with a try to Willie Tonga three minutes later to cut the margin to 18-14.

Andrew Ryan blew a golden opportunity when he dropped the ball as he reached out over the line, but Patten made amends for leaving his side undermanned earlier in the match when he raced 100 metres to score in the corner after cleaning up a Sutton kicked.

El Masri's conversion attempt shaved the right hand upright and the scores were locked at 18-all, but a crucial error by Souths fullback Todd Polglase, who was forced into touch after retrieving a fumble by El Masri, gave the Bulldogs one opportunity too many.

With the ball deep in Souths territory, Mason charged hard at the line and found Ryan who managed to get the ball down despite some desperate defence from Polglase and McDougall.

El Masri iced the game with a penalty goal in the dying stages after Polglase was sin binned for holding down Patten after the Bulldogs fullback had made another long break.

Source: AAP

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